Brady welcome everyone we do not have.
A chair at this time so I typically open the meeting I'm going to open the now
Mansfield modified Union School District and any supervisory Union governing board
meetings and I would hope that we would. Have no nations and motions
for the chair and for Vice Chair in for clerk.
Alone to. The.
Right we have
a nomination for chair Yes I nominate Andrew pond for chair second any discussion
any other nominations. All those in favor I.
Know you Andrew thank you John and Richard.
So what's left to move on so we need to elect also vice chair of the secretary I
know that he and Diana willing to serve in those roles when we start off with Vice
Chair Is there
a motion I'm going to. Be here. We
have a motion for
a day as vice chair Are there any other motions or any discussion. Sitting on
All in favor slips say I. And congratulations you think.
We also need to fill the secretary position with the Concord the clerk Yeah.
The primary job about just to keep me in line. Thanks for I think say things
correctly is there
a motion for clerk of the board. I. Thank this England
for the. Clear mission. We have
a motion with the second. And the other nominations or any discussion
to say not all in favor of time and as close as we say I. Thank you.
I do want to take
a moment to thank heaven for stepping on stepping down. For
us for all of his work for. The show.
So the meeting. Will still still take your input.
So at some point I and E.D.
And I will talk about how as a leadership team we can work together we have
a couple minutes at the end the meeting will sit down. And I will try to do that I
also want to welcome our new and returning board members we have Tom. Cheney over
here who apparently got the most votes. And
Chuck Lacy. As you all know who came in
a very close second so we're glad to glad to have you on board.
To be here. So really when you do need to talk
about committees. Before we get into the big three
committees there's
a couple things I would like to kind of get out of the way first for those of you
who are new to this process we generally just have
a conversation and figure out who wants to be on what committee. And then at the
end we'll kind of make sure that everybody's OK Before we move on to the next
agenda item. So we do have
a policy committee that is not policy governance but is there in case they need to
meet. Diane and Cindy were on that committee I don't to do even made in the last
year you know we didn't have them. And I saw from the minute if I read it right
that Tara Fowler from Huntington would be on that committee if there was some need
for that committee to meet Are you too comfortable staying in that role and stand
by Does anybody else have any interest in being on the on the non meeting Policy
Committee. At the ready so will will pencil and.
Cindy and Diane for the for that. One of the other roles is the regional
advisory board I have been serving on that. Serve on that board and Chuck has
expressed some interest in serving on the regional advisory board and I think he
too he's got some great energy and I think he'd be great on that board. Is there
anybody else who's interested in that particular particular role among you the role
reversal. So the regional advisory board.
Provides some direction for the county technical centers Soboth assets and
Burlington. There are some complicated.
It's complicated how things actually work and of course things are different
between Burlington and Affleck's. For example the Essex technology budget is
voted on by Essex voters but separately. From their school budgets whereas in
Burlington their technology budget is included in the entire Burlington school
budget. So they're the regional advisory board doesn't have
a whole huge amount of authority but when there are certain things that happen
there is required to be some communication between the board and the.
Efforts of the Burlington board. So I will talk
a little bit about some of the details during the. Committee and by advisor
for section of the agenda but the. This regional advisory board
was formed less than two years ago there had been
a different organization that was performing some of those functions so the board
is just really coming together I think chuckle brings some good energy. But I think
in short the technical centers haven't been getting
a lot of attention from either their supporting boards or from.
From
a super regional advisory board as they should have been so hopefully subject direction
can be provided there and there's
a lot of interesting discussions that I'm sure will be able to bring back that was
probably no longer answers I mean. This is really just called the Regional advisory
board that's planned. Doesn't tell you what it is.
Is. Fine. So
a pencil chucked in for that for now the other position I want to talk about
not sure exactly what it would be labeled so this is an opportunity to make your
own position is we really could use somebody to kind of take the reins of policy
governance in terms of. Perhaps of leadership but also some some coordination in
terms of policies. You know I've been doing some of that at different points Kevin
and Diane have have contributed to that but we could really use like a P.G.
Point per point person or P. G.'s R.
Or. Something along those lines and I'm hopeful that if not right now by the end
of talking about committees that somebody would be willing to to put their hand up
and kind of take some leadership on that. Who'd like to jump first.
I mean leave leave that blank for now but that's. But that is one that is
a. Place where the board could really use some support from somebody who's who's
able to kind of focus on that I don't know that would require
a huge amount of time but it would require some focus. So we have three
three other committees to talk about negotiations finance and community engagement
. I've got
negotiations on there so Michael Marks is not here today but he's on that committee
and would like to continue. I'm on the committee I think it's been
a tradition that the chair of the board also chairs the negotiations committee and
I'd like to continue with that. Kevin is on and is willing to continue at
least through this negotiations cycle. I think we could use
another board member to kind of fill things out. Paul is the
representative from the Huntington board who serves on that committee.
And I don't know how long Paul will continue on that committee I believe you
announce that you're going to be serving one more year on the Huntington board
where here. There's not
a rush from the Huntington committed uneaten board to get on the go see
a citizen like you to chair should be on so I'll be on for another year you know.
So is anybody interested in. Negotiation negotiation.
Only reason I'm the author is you know he's with us and more than happy. To make
almost call me when it's here and I. Did so as I'll create you don't have to do
a whole lot but I would somebody want to take on that role.
In the media in time for that are. That's
a tough one because the meetings tend to start at four thirty which can i know can
be
a difficult time for some folks sometimes Paul smiling at me sometimes even earlier
. How long. Sometimes the meetings are
really short Other times they are far from short. It's really it's really
interesting work to look at the tea at the contracts and to see how the whole
negotiation process goes on I find it fascinating. But it is time consuming.
Unfortunately for reasons that have nothing to do with our board or any of our
unions we've been in
a. We've been negotiating one year contracts because of the changes that are coming
with statewide health care for school employees. So it's been kind of
unfortunate. That we've been in the cycle of negotiating every year in
a typical negotiations here things start off in the fall with. A meeting with each
group the support staff and with the teachers typically a meeting
a month setting ground rules and starting to exchange proposals it tends to get
more intense as we get into the late winter months and early spring months because
their contracts typically expire at the end of June and they typically want to get
those if possible settled before the end of the school year. So I probably just
talked everybody out of any interest. At all and you get
the call if you're good enough with this in their family.
And you get him out of town. So the committee one thing that the committee has done
at least the fat last couple of years is passed
a resolution at the beginning of each negotiation cycle authorizing the
superintendent and our attorney to negotiate on behalf of the committee if we don't
have
a quorum so that allows proposals to be exchanged. Obviously the they wouldn't
be making any final agreements but it doesn't allow meeting to continue when
other folks can't be there Kevin had the honor of being the only representative. At
a meeting until my regional advisory board meeting showed up at the end but. You
know. That attendance only becomes critical when we get to the point where we're
looking at approving contracts although it's. Nest of you're there.
Most of the time because if you come in at the end you might not understand all of
where things headed off from. Place so it right now we're midway through
negotiation the current contract and then because it's
a one year probably right after we get done and so this contract will open up for
the next what will be much of a pause maybe a sub or will be
a part of that in the fall or late fall or early winter start up again so if you're
interested like maybe I want to be on the negotiating committee for the next cycle
it would be good to be an alternate maybe attend
a couple of the sessions this spring to be able to start with
a full speed six year. So right now you're looking
for an alternate so that would be well I'd prefer
a full member but I think an alternate Kevin was suggesting might not be the best
way to get your feet wet and see. If it's something you're interested in
not that at least eighty five percent of our budget comes from the contract that we
negotiated so it's
a very powerful position very influential committee. And I as most people know I I
don't do it because I'm on
a teacher's contract another district and I don't want to make anybody feel
uncomfortable when it comes down to why we do what we do but it is one way that you
really understand what the teachers do it's kind of it's fascinating to see all
the different pieces and parts that are required that need to be filled by either
teachers or support staff trying to be encouraging. So we can come back to that
what folks think about it up so the other two other two committees. That we should
talk about are finance and committing Gage meant doing talk about finance
commonsense you at least where the chair bias is the second most powerful committee
that. If you don't make it on the negotiations. It's not
a good second one offense to the nominee policy commitments with. If
you're interested in influencing the budget at
a great deal or level you do get an opportunity to check in with with the
administration and kind of give them the guardrails and guidance that before it
gets presented to the board we're not making the decisions anymore but it's
a first check and so we set up the objectives and what we've been calling
guardrails for the budgeting process for them if you have any counting or finance
background it's also helpful to you can share that experience with when the
administration very bring certain things to the finance committee for input or
approval. I'd prefer that we have an odd number just so that we can increase our
odds of having
a core about our meetings we have six members today which means four of the six
need to be present to have
a record and sometimes it's challenging to get all four there. So I like five or
seven. But I'll take however many we can we can get and next year will
likely be similar to the last couple of years where we've gradually given
a little bit more responsibility to the administration and taken more of an
advisory role that
a. Role or sleep the role so. That's the sales pitch for the
finance candidate seasonal it is seasonal. It's kind of
a long season. South Korea it starts and it starts in
September. Around January Well the meeting date it finishes so.
Michael Marx currently serves on that committee and he also would like to continue
. I saw from the Huntington minutes if I read it correctly that Shane how to
pronounce it Jack with will be the function representative So it sounds like
Kevin had his druthers we don't have either four or six from the sport on that
committee. If you want to continue to look at Kevin Michael wants to continue
other folks who are currently on there are eighty Beth and Cindy I'm stepping out
OK so. Many many. Talking and and
today let's continue in eating. Times usually.
We meet about six o'clock Thursday. Thursday.
I can do. You really think about. OK The six one is
not not
a word I don't. Count Yeah actually. I don't regard I've read your name down
inequality out of a will sometimes
a single one of the everybody. I'm nothing. Need an
alternate I could be an alternate instead of the phone number with that number no I
was going to say I can be the alternate. I mean I can do finance too if you want to
not my forte but I need you know learning is always
a good thing we should all strive to grow. I would I mean alternate have as much
say in the process as primaries and he does not matter of yeah if I can if we just
have five that means as always we get three people there we go to court to get
through the work of the day if I get seven people interested in working on the
committee that be even better but I think we can keep the. Get the.
Full time program primary position survive and have
a couple of years ago said you want to take Eric make it five and then nourishment
that six. But that's going after that yes they getting an alternate endings and
right now they get an alternate OK
So are you saying you want me on there are no second alternate and when I finish if
I if you like the chair find something fine. OK so I
haven't Michael Cindy Eric and then from Huntington Shane that makes five and then
to alternate it in Diane. And so I
think the last one to talk about is community engagement committee had five members
and three Ultra nuts and. Kirk was
a full member who is no longer on the board and Susan was an alternate who is no
longer on the board if you were sure that committee would anything you'd like to
talk about for that are. The most powerful.
That he would argue many would argue like to be on there as we. Are the ones most
directly impacting the stakeholders and trying to make sure that all of us are
directly back in. So I'm happy to keep tearing it OK how many members did you
really want on there I really want to engage people on there and I really don't
care how many so if there are seven on there you're totally fine right yeah OK the
truck would like to be on new me in the morning we headed you want to getting in to
new thirty in the morning on Wednesdays that are not there and start when there
does and and delicacy and chips so when things. Don't work well
well we can switch it to another morning so let's step right because yes we have
staff on there and they have company evening meetings I try to meet together in the
morning on the right track to travel the middle of the week if we can that makes
six with. Ethan chip Derek truck and I'm going.
I need to reserve I need to find out when that one is going to meet if. I travel in
the middle of week so. That we will not meet on Monday morning at
seven thirty Yeah I had. Friday is
a total possibility would it work just in terms of having quantum talk let's talk
as an alternative. Are you comfortable about her because you'll get and I would my
continuing as an alter as well just in case you need
a form so that would be OK I could be OK Well OK great.
Argument that. This is
a. Devotion that's another compliment and genuine I think and it
after the meeting if we could get together that would be great to talk about next
meeting it will work with you change Thank you
so where I think we are we have the non policy governance policy not meeting the
most powerful. Of Diane and Cindy disagree with how you heard
from Huntington that we have Chuck on the original advisory board who was ready to
jump up to speed use our.
Negotiations Michael Marks Kevin Campbell and me and then Paul from Huntington
finance would have Kevin Michael Cindy Eric and
Shane from Huntington and to alternate city and Diane and then community
engagements would have eighty Ethan chip Derek galaxy and then three alternate
chalked on the missile. To the content is everybody happy with it well no.
If everybody's happy with all that will write it in ink on the on the website. Want
. To be free to go.
Well that took
a little longer than I expected but I think we're in good shape so John the next
agenda item is to appoint enough you voting delegate to the statewide health
insurance initiative can you put that in perspective for us yes so I think the
description. Is in the.
Sensually with the day. Right now the statement go shooting health care for
all. Public education employees and each supervisor in the union gets
a delegate we're district if you're in unified districts to vote on whatever that
plan is that makes sense to folks. So we need
a what were we the board need to or should appoint somebody that is going to cast
that vote. And my understanding is they're go where near they I
don't think they've met yet OK. I do think we should have somebody who's already on
negotiations who can understand how it might all fit into what we're doing already
you know I mean I'm happy to go on tour for the young folks like you just have to
press
a button you have to keep you know the prize of it and then you press the button
when you're you know when it's time pretty powerful it's it will become the most
powerful. If I take any action. Is to pressing that button. At the F.B.I.
That do we need
a formal motion for this one we should OK. Under for that pledge
Yeah great all in favor of appointing me is the SU voting delegate to the statewide
health insurance initiative we say I write any person any. And I am appointed.
Our next to agenda item is to review the C.S.U.
Bylaws I put this on. The reorganization meeting because this
meeting also tends to kind of serve as the C.S.U.
Annual meeting if you happen to look at the bylaws there are
a bunch of things that are supposed to happen at that meeting most of which in our
current board structure happen at different times. But I just like to encourage
folks to skim through the bylaws at least once a year. We've talked
a couple of times that they should probably. Be updated because the old policy
committee probably doesn't need to be
a standing committee and we should probably get community engagement on there. But
we have been and I think probably want to continue to wait to update those until
our governance. Questions have been resolved or at least look like they're in a in
a place where they're going to be for
a while. Does anyone have any questions about the bylaws or.
Anything else
it's
a process. Situation. There's an article four that we have to warn I think we
haven't actually won it it could be
a one of our regular type meetings would have to actually be warned and I think
that the time period might be longer than it was you know. And we did it before or
after reorganization and so this is this reflects the policy condition right after
reorganization and. It would you know if we get a bunch of them together like
a bunch of changes over the course of the year and we just mourn it all together I
think that might be something to just kind of wait and see where things go with the
whole governance question. We're in any kind of dire straits over No I think at
some point will probably want to have an ad hoc committee that looks at revising
the bylaws I don't. Seem silly to appoint that committee at this point I think it
at some point will recognize that they need to be updated for click for clarity
more than anything and. You know at that point we figure out how to get the work
done. Last chance to talk about the
C.S.U.
Bylaws. OK. Good well I guess we
can take a. Take a break from business for
a minute here and we'll talk about our annual meeting calendar when we get there
but one of the things we do is try to meet as we do meet in each town at least once
during. A school year we also like to hear from each of the building principals
once during the school year just to get
a feeling for what's what's going on and today we're both in camel's hump and we
have the opportunity to hear from from our Carbone so I'm not sure which I have
prepared but you do have the floor. Thanks for giving me this time. So I have
five or six things to talk about. One of the largest things we're going on right
now is the storm water clean water initiative system restoration grant with the
state of Vermont. We're going to talk the mother of side
organization to bring two or three or four different projects on the property to
design and then hopefully would design final designs for the grants to implement
those so the next few years we might have some stronger restoration projects here
on the campus. We're working with the rise of Burma and we have
currently we have we brought three different sessions of nursing students were
coming to the school as volunteers working in our health classes and then running
an afterschool last trimester they ran an after school nursing babysitting program
for our young people and we had twelve young people sign up and we're going to run
it again and we have another ten or twelve interested young people signing up for
that so it's amazing new partnership. Nursing students.
In terms of professional though here in the building we were in our year three of
our implicit bias turning this year we were going with Rebecca has not been seen
the way this month or last week but we've got we focused on social justice the
social justice standards and in particular action in talking about what actions our
young people can can take and we can take care in the building to move the implicit
bias and information and work that we're doing forward. This
spring we're doing our prosper parent student educational program will be running
a. Spring booster session this fall we had fourteen families participate and we are
right now have five or six dailies signed up for the Brewster sessions so hopefully
those will be filled like this all our food backpack program has seen an
uptick in participation this year hoping again this spring to be working with the
high school and will rate in the high schools annual food drive to help us fill our
pantry. Because there's certainly seem to be an increase in the need. We're
starting our fourth great transition so it's always kind of fun and exciting to
start reaching out to elementary schools and seeing the young people the young
families come and coming in to count the first time. Our sustainability initiative
this year. We're putting
a book is on that we're trying to get more of our young people involved in the
school garden and in the school green house. We have three thousand onions started
a couple hundred spinach plants a couple hundred tail and
a couple hundred less so hopefully with the greenhouse the weather will change the
greenhouse will get going so we'll have spring greens for the kitchen and then this
fall the saw we had twenty one hundred onions to the cafeteria to the kitchen so
hopefully this year we can do
a little better and get three thousand and you into the kitchen.
We had our annual Pi Day and the last week it's
a testament to our young people that we handed out two hundred forty five digits of
pi and I was very young people to line up without
a lot of in gold supervision in management and they they did that under eight
minutes. So I was really impressed because I can't get the line to save my life and
they could do it two hundred forty five of them in a minute so it's goofy
a great way to end that day and the last piece I have is of spring sports and
athletics with volleyballs up and going in the play is next week twenty eight
twenty nine thirty so if you want to see some great performers please come. On
those evenings that is it. Thank you.
You might have any questions or comments from our extended play. Series of want to
. Thank you. Chuck.
It's one of those loops is this where some of the trends that you see you know last
. Ten years or so.
Of but there's
a bit of puberty that never changes. I
think. Social media electronic you know me or tronic world or certainly
grabbing more and more attention it is. We have pretty decent participation in
afterschool activities. But I think that it's hampered by the amount of social
media electronic devices we run or after school activities are now. For you know
quote unquote gaming for young people because that with these would be. And that's
the both a positive in
a slightly worrisome trend and. I think academically.
They are much. More engaged in
a variety of of pieces of information
a much more kind of whittling aware of their surroundings over the last ten years.
Which. Again has its root facts on it but it also is challenging because again they
are middle school young people I also think over the last ten years in terms of
culture and community within the building they're much more inclusive and
understanding and accepting of
a variety of different differences and are much more open to talking about
differences and challenges. As is larger community society that we face. Which
is. It's inspiring to me to be around young people and with that
mindset again I think the. The flipside of that is because
they are engaged in
a world that is. Electronically motor to each other we say that they're not always
aware of the detriment that some of that has in their communication and their
actions.
Three thirty or.
A number how many. Hundred
thirty. Or. So there's some number of groups.
Worried about her like. It's.
Two weeks ago we put this survey out to our students. Two hundred forty responses
out of three thirty. You know so I can go through
a bunch of the data points I.
I'm really concerned about ten percent of my population. In terms of not feeling
connected here the building in from one of the survey said you know if you want to
talk about the academic piece. You know mathematics according to aspect I should be
concerned about thirty two percent of my students. And the math literacy twenty two
percent so I'm ranked so I got I'm paying attention to that in terms of. That
social cultural piece around ten percent of my people overall. Would.
From what they would be you know not going to. College with.
The good news is that. It's all seventy nine percent of our young people say
they're treated well at school seventy nine percent.
Of creating those marks you mentioned you haven't I think if you think yours is
kind of
a compact there are other resources that you. Are you feeling like you have the
feeling like you're there and you think that might mean.
Too broad. I probably want to be
more thoughtful in my response. Silly but there is an impact Yes I
think it you know with with food insecurity comes
a lot of other. Concerns and you can get
a system as you respond. As you respond to
a concern other concerns arise so it's like this exponential path that we're we go
down in terms of how do we support young people and the families. But yet the point
is now the more you write in. The more the more recess sources we have the better
we can do it a B. And C.
So then say oh well what about the any rainbow we can go there to write so into
this that it's an evolution in your Before I would answer like where I'm heading or
where I want to be more possible that that's something you think you're. Great.
You know and have said that you. Are you're. Around.
It and you and that concerns are what. One
can send you back or what do you think Erick are some of the overall reasons why
you were single be alive and is there anything you can think about the ethics. Or
what do you think. That. I say that because
the you know the so there's
a group of questions that we ask about you know if you could are you could do there
are go to adult here in the building would you go to adult here in the building. Or
you know we have
a variety of questions around participation or activities that young people are in
and that that strand of ten percent always seems to be No I don't have an adult
that I would go to
a building or ten percent that's not engaged here in the building why young. People
aren't engaged you know there's as many reasons for that as there are young people
and. If so that is an academic piece others of it is.
Not engaged in school and I don't school building provides very little for me in
terms of side interests or where they perceive themselves. The young
people that I I'm concerned about you know in my head is that ten percent would be
about their lack of. Connection to an adult here in the building that I can that I
can label in
a seat where I could place them or the lack of their participation in either the
academic programming or the afterschool program and more so I would lean toward
that afterschool program being then the academic program in terms of concern. That
is original or split. Not big
enough to trying to go through my head you know that like ten percent is thirty
three young people. Never.
Again probably. I was. Trying to be.
Thank you Mark or just nails one more minute that's more general care after they
keep things in the past Iris the years of therapy years you've seen any significant
change and since the patterns have. Your form friendships and communicate with each
other or identify themselves with people married to their anything changing in that
particular.
Well yeah I think people are much more electronically connected socially
than ever before and
a lot of their. Social dynamic is through and we're trying to
devise. You know the idea of getting invited to
a birthday party you no longer called the you would not have three young person in
this building to call
a front. That is. That which is lacking.
One other thing that's a really really really good question though
a good question and if you like them we could have
a whole dialogue about it but it my gut tells me that cellphones and social media
are
a huge change and it but it's also the easy answer so is there are there other things
you know are we facing the opiate epidemic or are there other kind of things
outside the walls of the community that you see are different now that answer since
question as well.
Certainly you know the economic disparity is
a huge factor the opioid academic. May or may not play into the economic this very
right but it certainly is part of. The. Continuum
there's
a bunch of societal concerns that certainly have impact. The lack of portable
housing the. Area where you live. With that what that
means there is
a gentrification in our current town that is you know has an impact there is
certainly
a. Lack of affordable housing that has an impact and. The
economic disparity within this building is growing so all that we also play
a factor in that that I want to. I was answering one question if you like that's
a different question. I just you know I was trying to say you you gave the easy
answer just the but that's you know that's definitely
a thing that adults can identify with that may be totally normal for kids so so I
sort of picked up the factors.
I just want to say it's great that you're even asking the question because as we
were talking about this I recall the fact that most of us may have grown up in
a time where no one asked that question where the number of kids who were
disenfranchised or didn't feel part of the community didn't feel like it was on any
particular principals radar so we to kind of don't even have the data as to what
happened in previous generations to come paired to but it's great that you guys are
asking the questions and I appreciate that.
Greg thank you Mark appreciate that good to hear about all the. Good stuff going on
our next agenda item is the students represent
a report. Send in the mill you do have anything. You know is carries.
But it will be covering the high school news so. Sports have started the new season
and luckily we have good weather as well it's still cold but it's sunny so across
are for track on the distance team so we just went out today and the weather was
beautiful and even with like the heat wave on Friday it was still bearable going
out in the pleasing cold. And side sports we also have.
A state level of poetry out loud is happening now the finalists R.P.N.
Studios and we have our own freshman Serenus oir competing currently.
So she competed at school level regional And so if she does well at the state level
she will go on to nationals just exciting. She's also getting lots of bonus points
in English but. We have
a New England musical festival this or this Thursday through Saturday which is
a chance brings in. Students. And music from across the
state to have
a chance to perform with other musicians. I don't date for this but
I think I think it is also at the end of the week but there's the Vermont mock
trial happening and so that's with different high schools are competing in that we
have
a delegation going to that. And that's hosted by the Bar Association. And then we
also have our musical happening at the beginning of April.
Friday to Saturday I think we'll have another meeting before then so I can bring
that up again that's the part I'm counting spelling bee and my sisters and it. So
I've been hearing the songs at home doing some. Things
going the next of like humor and just. Classic example.
And I. Waited for the money to kind of. I only have
two items. For the other schools believe Mr curve and mention the camel some reason
the Kings compete in the armchair challenge and finally expand. And it's brown and
Mr carbon did mention the fall show at kind of something friends River not the fall
show sorry having the spring show camels and browns river is having their spring
musical We Will Rock You on the twenty twenty second and twenty third of March
coming up very soon. You know as sort of a lot of the brands are of
a drama department you know how much fun that is and how meaningful it is for
students. To go out and check that as well you know
twenty years from now. We're going to have any questions or comments you know
this is just. One question. In terms of going to rip the. Chord support
last night and. Yes we have this in the student council.
For the school to. The black Lab matter flag.
But the school decided that we would have like
a school by discussion first to that students and understand the meaning behind the
flag before we were able to fly it so we start that stage.
I just wanted to say that I I feel like I was lucky I was able to go to the group
a gallery and see the art show from the high school and I was I was impressed with
the masks I really thought that that was
a really cool project. And I know that we'll have some opportunity when we meet it
m m you to you know tour around and look at some of the things that are going on
but it's it's wonderful to be able to see the artwork that's being done and I was
also impressed with the darkroom photography and so I think that's pretty cool that
they're actually using a darkroom and I'm assuming that's
a real film. I took which is like going by the wayside nobody ever uses it
anymore or hey it was kind of being revived again with the whole like attraction to
I guess there is
a. Good story. Right but I thought it was
a lot of fun because. Getting so used to having everything taken digitally is. You
feel more connected to
a photo if you have to put in so much effort to go through it and I've also had
friends that like if you double exposed something you can just experiment more and
in different ways than you can with. Digital photography so
a little more gratifying than just clicking on Vivid mode for your little photo ID
that you took or you know doing the filters it's more gratifying to actually be
part of the process because they're it's just
a very in-depth process and it's also. It's more collaborative because you
work with other people on every single step and it's
a lot like it's so much more gratifying to be able to have all the stuff to come
together to create
a finished product that it actually looks good and so having that.
Exhibit at the gallery I love going to it because there are so many really
interesting our classes at the high school there's I don't know if there's
a pottery showing this year but you have pottery and fine metals and darkroom
there's a lot of different art mediums that students have
a great. Pleasure thank. You for the I was on.
When I made the know it as well as you. Can also then in C.P.P.
As well so they enable. The very.
Grateful thank you very much appreciate that. So we are on to community comments
are there any community comments know.
That our next agenda item is to approve the twenty one thousand two hundred twenty
board meeting and. Work calendar.
So I drafted. Trying to stick to our one meeting
in each town. And getting
a principals report from each principal. Some building tours I think there are one
or two planned for during the meeting and
a couple that are just in advance of folks want to take
a look around the building to get
a tour from the principal. This. Is
pretty similar to this years when I took
a look at it it seemed to make sense. You know obviously
a fair amount of work that starts kind of at the end of budget season and then as
we begin the school year I anticipate it will be I'm sure as we begin the board
year in March has to be
a fair amount of work with. With the board reorganization of the P.G.
Refresher kind of taken up
a couple of couple meetings. To
Does anyone have any feedback or any questions really concern Sunday. January
sixteenth that she is principals report on the agenda and we're friends forever
we're meeting you J.S.
In October doing you really need to write to me. Yeah maybe it's just
a typo. Follow me January sixth I see I'm looking.
At. You know you know that should be Brown's river there is
a prince I report on October seventh maybe that's just the type you.
Entered and I had that question about if the annual meeting will again be held
during February break if there's any way you can move at low earlier so that
families don't miss that who happen to go away during separate break. And it's
a common theme among them. It's just amazing if
it doesn't make a difference to put it
a week earlier something now the great I think there are so to look at the articles
say that we will. Proposed annual budgets accordance with P.S.A.
And into a budget shall be cordons with
a sh up or so deceptive look up those statutes I think that's what led us to put
our annual meeting within ten days of town meeting right because that my budget
vote has to be Australian ballot which we want to have during time we didn't get
the most amount of votes and then you have to have to get
a give your meeting. Less than ten days before and that forces you into that week
and then Thursday was picked as the least. At the date that was most likely to get
the most involvement out of that vacation week that's why we waited on Thursday.
And typically the only. There are some there are some routine items to get out of
the annual meeting but generally the the maid of that meeting is
a budget presentation which happened to Typically there are three of those that
happen before those meetings. So if we were going to be making
some decision out of annual meeting we'd want to think about the timing or perhaps
holding
a special meeting but I'm. It's unfortunate I think that that that that we have to
have a meeting called the annual meeting that doesn't have
a whole lot of things other than electing some officers and authorizing to borrow
money and stuff that's not of interest
so other than the correction in January that that would be the Browns river
principals report are we ready to approve the meeting schedule.
Story to address. His role in months. Oh Monday's school.
For that school and that's where that happened yes but they're not they're on
vacation except for that and he's. The leave so there's
a board meeting if needed for April twentieth and that I didn't check. But I think
all the others are outside of you know the conflict.
So I don't think we need emotion we can just sort of we can just adopt this and
across the word draft off and obviously food. If we need to make changes we will
down the road but will will will go and put this up on the website at some point.
Great thank you and so we're on to the.
One hundred twenty policy governance work plan and groups agenda item.
So our policy governance work cycle I think makes the most sense to be tied to
our board member Tom cycle all I did was
to take the model of what we had done this year and update it with the
policies from our three year cycle that we had talked about last year. And on the
groups I just. Put folks in the place of the folks who had have left the
board. I do want to say I realize that we didn't finish all of the work that we had
planned to do. At this point in our
policy governance. Adoption is not the word I'm looking for.
As we're as we're learning and getting used to policy governance one of the things
that I remember Diane bringing back from some of the trainings is that getting the
reasonable interpretations done is the important piece the first time so my feeling
when I put this together was that we can while we didn't necessarily accomplish
what we wanted to last year in terms of getting reports written to me it makes more
sense just to pick up where we are. And start fresh with new board members and
a new cycle and half
a dozen new reports and hopefully things will be easier this year and we'll be able
to get through all of the reasonable interpretations as well as the reports on the
policies Diane Do we know if Val is going to take
a look at what we've done and make any comment because it might be better to just
sort of say OK this is the idea we might change it after we meet with her if she
kind of the you know gives us some feedback to do touch base with but you know
sometimes they're OK. And she did you know but still missing
them OK. So she may have some better ideas is all I'm saying right so I just wanted
to bring this bring this up in case folks had any input or things you want to talk
about today this might be an item that we want to postpone to our next meeting just
so we see what thou has to say but I want to let folks know what.
What I thought and what it looked like in terms of just taking the.
Repeating what we had tried to do started to do last year because I thought that it
seems to have worked pretty well compared to what we had tried the first year or
two. Where are you saying that we would not finish the
step that we were doing last year OK.
And I'm certainly open to anything else who ever wants to wear the P G's are can.
It seems like
a shame I don't think it should. Not this is where we left off Actually I know we
didn't finish our last policy four point three. Superintendent monitoring one we
would like concern is if we were to continue to do though that that would put us
pretty far behind in terms of trying to. To get our heads around this model and I
was and I was feeding off. The feedback that we have got not specific to our work
this year but feedback that we've gotten in terms of. Changing the policy
governance and getting the reason wanter potations done before we worry about
getting the policies done OK but it's more the evidence part it's not completed
monitoring the actual report where you have the evidence that yes.
So I think I'd like to table this item and I'll put it on the next meeting agenda
till we have
a chance to hear from Val and talk to her to make. Sure that we will do that.
And our next agenda item is to discuss and consider approving the superintendent
evaluation process want to get a little give
a little bit of background. We in the pre-merger days
it was I think it was
a lot less formal We also were not operating under policy governance what happened
in the pre-merger days what individual boards would have
a discussion and then the board their board chair would meet up with the executive
committee and the executive committee would have
a discussion and delegate things to the executive committee board chair and I think
that we wanted to have things
a little more formalized or at least in writing and I think Diane put together.
Or is that right I started and then worked with other folks. E.D.
And John because there exists in other policy governance boards some
additional pieces aside from the monitoring report that clarify the procedure
for evaluating the superintendent. Just so that we we have that more formalized on
a timeline it always seems like in the past couple of years we get to May or June
and go oh we need to do that and then you know try to put it together so this
allows us to have two pieces one that talks about the steps that we're going to do
and also gives us
a date by which we do it by May first and it gives us the checklist.
So that John can present us the actual summative evaluation where you can talk we
can see it at
a glance when we have our meeting our executive session all of the policies that
have been done. And then it has that that place afterwards you know based on our
prior acceptance of these reports the board reaches the following conclusions and
that would really help guide our discussion in executive session as to what we want
to say and also based on those conclusions makes the following decisions just
clarifying the steps we had already gone through. And they'll also be
a paper trail that will look consistent year to year that would be in John's file
or what have you so it's just
a way to sort of clean up what we had already done and so I was looking we were
looking through the board's approval of this process to add these procedures to our
policy. Is the latest version
it should be do you see something that is missing. Which one of the space
that lets us add in the things that aren't part of policy governance like for
example the negotiations with Huntington this year or the ID
school issue those kinds of things they need to be part of because they think that
big ticket items like that or the need to be part of the. And they aren't covered
under policy government. So.
That would be something where. I did not see that in
a state would be something that we talked about but we did not create
a space for it I thought we had agreed that we would OK so. That would be something
also we could discuss right now and say do we need
a space for that and would people if they are looking at that particular summative
piece so I can I can I make the argument clear so so right now one hundred
percent of our evaluation of John based on policy governance policies which is
typically how policy governance boards do that.
With my H.R.
Background I looked at that and said there are all kinds of mitigating factors that
come into play that we are not taking into account and that I would hate to be
doing a good superintendent without having
a place to take those things into account. Which is
a second paragraph like the paragraph that says based on the board's prior
acceptance of these reports would be a two sentence or thing like that with
a couple of lines that said outside factors impacting past years
accomplishments or impacting past years. The past year outside where issues of the
past year that we think are germane to the evaluations so it feels like there may
be many years where that is an A right but however this past year for example I see
three issues that would impact this. Is
a third one having an interim second in command I feel like that's
a huge to trade to bring somebody in and train them and knowing that they're going
to leave. So yeah I feel like we're remiss by not having that
extra line and to do one of the Just One which to alter the. There is
a new segment it's just a segment with
a tiny paragraph that said that yeah so what we can do is we can take the facts we
can actually prepare that and have them brought up for the next meeting if you want
. It said of timing on this feels strongly I remember doing that and I don't know
where it got dropped off in the. In the version so I remember you having that
discussion but I think it's important to clue the board on that because it does
deviate slightly from the very strict policy you know the superintendent will only
be evaluated against you know the policy governance policies so it's
a slight deviation. So. Maybe
broader than our work although no I don't want to work so that I guess I'm Maybe
I'm misinterpreting but I almost read that to be that it's we're just adding that
in that this is what was added to his plate in addition to all this other stuff
we've been doing and maybe as you say every years it's not going to be
a principle at all but I think it's important to note that he has that added on in
addition to everything else and there are big things. And I would rather instead of
word smithing in a meeting I'd rather bring it back to the people as
a finished piece knowing that everyone thinks we are on the right track with this
and we would be using it this year May first time frame.
Even as
a question. I'm curious as to whose. Responsibility
this would be to do these last two questions and then potentially the third. And
then. This one of the chair right up and that we come back to the time to hash it
out as part of the evaluation process is not happening. Workgroups in
every or the board and and then just curious as to.
Why conclusions. It does feel like this is kind of
a checklist and then we're kind of have the bottom are here to get kind of more of
a narrative I'm just curious as to why you know John's at school but we had some of
the calls for John was that be part of this and maybe that's that's kind of what
we're saying based on the foregoing conclusions it would set these goals but I
guess I'm missing because I'm missing a piece here because it sounds like there's
a hard and with a conclusion
a little bit beyond renewing the contract that's the sole conclusion that we're
we're looking for that's something that we end up doing already that we talk about
in executive session and so this is kind of
a place to put that that was how. It was discussed as
as on and as its usefulness in terms of that spot so we would not be adding on more
goals to John because John's goals are embedded within our and policy.
And other things that he says friends not that we don't set other goals for him
would it be appropriate to be part of that process to help jog their goals or is
that not policy governance that. Certainly wasn't what we envisioned when we were
talking about it because if we look at our our superintendent devaluation policy
that we've approved there's no place for it it's pretty clear that the
superintendent will be evaluated only on the written policies and if we're not
happy with them then we change the policies kind of thing. So. So
basically it was envisioning that we would. Have
a place to sort of have an evaluation document so that when we meet together we've
got the data and it's filled in. Making the the
conclusions. And the following you know decision in terms of rehire contract
extension and then as he said there was
a discussion about the mitigating or special circumstances that we may want to take
into consideration and some of those may be positive or negative commendations on
the job well done or or whatever allowing us to have
a little bit of sort of non P.G.
Leeway in that area. We also talked about doing this somewhat in
our policy governance groups to get some small group feedback and I actually do
forget which way we decided because I know we end up meeting in executive session
to do the final bits of this so can you remember. That we
talked about having the small group serve Peachey clear meet and then having
a representative of each group kind of share that so that people had
a chance to count coherent thoughts and it wasn't
a three hour meeting and we didn't want the. Chair to be writing down
like fifteen different statements from people in executive session to add on to it
we wanted to be able to come to some rather brief statements. And conclusions but.
It sounds like we need to do
a little bit more fleshing out before we bring this back to you for you know
a final approval so these are good questions but this was something that I kind of
did in early January and now we need to bring it back. To have
a certain free wrap up not only here up and up. Go away so when I
was thinking about this. I think arcade arguably anything that happens during the
year. That would cause us to incorporate that event into
a performance review could be. Categorized under some of these policies
you could you could force yourself to say OK this thing happened it was
a focus area I'm going to say that that fits under your belt seven emergency
superintendent succession for example. If we did that then maybe we could hold
ourselves to this but my question is regardless. Is our expectation that those
those incidental reports come aligned to these executive limitations so that
it will that get incorporated into the annual review process because what I'm
seeing here and I'm probably not clear but we have
a column called Date monitored we monitor these every three years I think the and
policies every year the executor mentation the every three years so I don't think
it's just I don't think we're saying it's just the formal three year monitoring of
the report it's anything that happens incidentally during the year relates to that
policy would be incorporated into the. Evaluation
right. Not sure I'm quite following you as to how we would do that again it's
this is this is
a firm don't know about the house but I mean is it more about intent great if if we
have wanted here. Let's just say financial planning and budget. And it's good to
talk about this when times are good and this is it personal it's just talking about
like OK what if we had
a horrible planing she season the budget didn't get prepared in time and it was
they were ready to present it up to the voters right that would be
a really horrible situation and we would capture that under that you know something
happened under that policy but if we didn't review it that you're right we would
still right there would be and it would have to cart
a report to be issued yet in that so we could call for
a report because we felt something needs to be reported so I'm just looking at it
in a practical matter. What usually happens in
a cycle and trying to solve the the process and looking at the
pieces about that in terms of the logistics and what usually happens is that we
proceed along and then at the end of April or May we go oh. By the way we need to
do that and so this is seeking to give us
a planning tool. And an execution tool to do it in
a consistent manner so if you have
a specific suggestion as to how that would happen within this tool that's what I
would be looking for. I think I like the idea of focusing on those
policies of the. Last ten because that's what we've said is the job description
right that's what he's doing I think we might need to be
a little bit more open in terms of how they get evaluated rather than just calling
out. Date in which the policy was last monitored as
a measure So in other words having another column well for disposition column would
have right I thought that was the disposition of. The right and I thought that was
really accepted or not right but I think when you do some do some work offline I
don't know how much time you want to spend you know bored trying to write that this
was a good feedback. It's really
a propaganda tool having That is great in the timelines but for gracious. OK OK
So anyone who has any suggestions how far this particular thing is if you and you
and I were working on it we would take suggestions and thoughts so that we can
bring you back something that works
a little bit better meets everybody's needs How does that sound because you're what
I think has yet to come from yeah that's right E.D.
Kevin says on the right yes OK.
Great thank you good discussion thank you so we're on to the consent to John I
would entertain
a motion to approve the content agenda. Second grade so motions were made and
seconded to approve the concept of gender. So just to let the new folks know the
consensus Gena consists of items that are retained that we expect to be
non-controversial we do typically kind of run down those and give folks
a chance to either make comments or ask questions. And it just makes
a little bit more efficient for these items to not take individual votes on each
each of them I'll start off with the first item on there which is to appoint me and
Cindy to review the golden apple nominations that's something that Susan and I have
been doing for
a number of years. Dating back to pre-merger the idea is that. The
that. And Cindy has volunteered to jump in and Susan's place the the idea is that
Cindy and I would take
a look at the Golden Apple. Applications nominations and that
those for ones that we think that the board should approve so that when we bring it
to
a board meeting we're not all starting at ground zero. So that's
the. That's it in
a nutshell for the goal novels which are coming up soon. So
does anybody have any questions. About that. And then if not that well we could
move on to the principal appointment any comments or questions there
and seeing on the Superintendent reports that folks want to talk about anything in
the superintendent reporter ask any questions there you know and anything you want
to go beyond what's not in writing.
And when you talk about grade level staffing at. Brown stripper Are we
reducing staff here in the district or is that there was
a reduction in this is in the OR in the budget mission the reducing one teacher at
ground zero for the neuroma so reconfiguring. Does that mean that scarce in
future edition
a teacher that is not going to be rehired for next year already know we had
a. One year position because somebody left in the leaders will be the thing anybody
.
I don't think I had a few questions I was great that everyone who had
a choice for schools in the U. ID is going to able to go to J.F.K.
Or yes they chose to give us
a sense of the scale like that use of my questions about this and what in the case
like the sizes of the schools will be next year A.C.S. And J.S.
So we had. Thirteen U.C.S.D.
. Underhill. Resident choice to go to
Jericho. We had for sure
a couple of families that want to go to Underhill center we have one Jericho family
that. Has choice or Richmond and we have one Underhill family that.
Has choice to Richmond and we have a Walton family who has
a choice to Richmond. So our numbers are those are the way they are we also have
a choice back and forth one from can look to Browns river and one from Browns river
to camp. So the the school size is really
close of what we had when you factor in school choice that's where we had the
annual report so the jackal's looking like three twenty approximately three twenty
and Underhill center one twenty seven.
To do do you have
a program so that of the children. Under her idea what was the split.
She like most of them chose Jarkko Yes yes some of the choices.
From under the light the issue. She was
a jerk. Thirteen family. And and under House on what is
what before. Ninety three students so it's gone from ninety three to one twenty
seven and you're across going from one to one fifty. One
to three twenty. Well and even
fractionally. Going to
a place. To start an increase so the numbers are pretty
close to what you know I think we anticipated. To that and we met with the
principals and we looked at all the numbers all the the grade levels and the
principals really felt like we could. Offer
a choice to the families and wanted it and felt like this was important. In the
first year particularly of repurposing under the lady we were able to make that
happen.
Anything else for John I'm a super times I'm sorry again but I also just had
a question about I know there's still in the process of the architects but when
will we have a sense of the plan for the the building three purposing and just
a question with the Y.M.C.A.
Birth to preach a wider that like you were talking
a pulmonary talks with them going Well what is the scale that you're anticipating
for the very first year of the birth to pre-K.
Like how many kids are we kind of estimating. So first we have some conceptual
designs in there putting estimate to that conceptual design I should have with
or you may. Not sooner. But the plates were on
track to approximately what we were thinking it would cost. So that's some good
news. And then burst the scale that we talked about with the
folks from. A
loser in the. You know because there's no it's not very suffice it's
their name is changed
a couple times because last Ok so they thought that the area that we talked about
would serve about twenty seven birth to three children. Which
is
a pretty significant. Number I think for care. And that I would really
be that's sort of that the face really the this project. Because that we didn't.
We didn't there will be some renovations
a need to happen to the birth of the area that we didn't you know we didn't account
for in the. In the repurpose and. There's
a couple of phases. Phase one make sure the rooms are ready for Students First is
school face two is to have central office in there by.
Jerry one and two thousand and twenty and say three is. To have received directly
there's
a requirement from birth to three areas will be will need to be working with. The
provider and with. The GO kids.
Said that they can help us in consultation around the worst thing we're going to be
able to secure some grants to be able to fund some of that there's
a lot of money out there so right now we're on track to have students in their
beginning of next school year and to have our office in there by January one which
was the target. To be reasonable. All of.
That I think so that's what we really want to investigate me and with this is new
this is something new very new for school districts to take on and so we're we are
going to be able to afford. To pay for all that and that was never.
A concept that I thought would work so. Our goal is
to right now the goal would be to try to have. Potentially somebody in
there before the end of next school year or the beginning of two thousand and
twenty one or sooner ending on you know the renovation in the building that can
take place but the people were. The folks from the Y.
That I talked to. And that's what this is what the wideouts I mean
a this is really. They have the capacity and experience and birth to
three in our area they said the space is that for and so did the people. Let's
go see kids so exciting some new territory thing.
Obviously elected have current funding and I think that there will be funders who
will see this as being something that has the potential to be
a statewide model because this is potentially an asset for the smallest elementary
schools around the state that probably are going to be close and this is an
opportunity to do something to attract young families and somehow helps to
take the place of an elementary school closes.
Around cycle so I don't answer your question so I should have you
a good estimate may. For forging ahead.
I think else for John on the superintendent's report and we also have
a couple sets of minutes to approve any questions or corrections about the minutes
but there's nothing else on to discuss on the content agenda then I will.
Call for
a vote of all in favor of approving the content to gently say I. Say no. And the
motion passes Thank you. Were on to committee an advisory committee
reports. I did attach some you can call it
up John the. Presentation is
a grab for site and there I did attach
a few slides from the presentations that we saw at the last meeting one from the
Center for Technology Essex and one from. The political center.
And I just kind of wanted to quickly point this out to you should be able to pull
them off at home because of the second job.
So. We just don't normally see what the enrollments are for these. For these things
and it's nice to see kind of interesting to see the sort of breakdown of. Course
most of the students in Essex are coming from Essex. Sometimes and you'll see one
of the later slides students far away depending on what programs they're looking
for. I just want to go through this quickly and let somebody else question who's
going to the next line. And so there's
a list of the offerings they have some for some of the Lord Grantham some for the
opera grades and efforts of the full day program. Then there's
a wide variety of things that students choose to do from automotive to Cosmetology
that. That are out more traditional and then there's some newer ones on like
a good assistance technology. If we go on to the next screen John and if your
health care. This is
a listing of the connections that the Essex Technical Center has with the C C B S
with P.T.C.
And some of necking as well so students who are in some of the programs there are
able to get sometimes college credit. At the beginning of our last meeting we met
a young man I think is from South Burlington. And he
was his project I think he called the capstone project was designing software.
From soft to actually try and go in and build
a building with concrete I don't know how practical it is but he had an auger on
the feeder of the head was running the software to go do this I don't know that
it's actually practical but he has and it's amazing his intent is to be able to
help people in areas where there are business asters and have equipment that could
roll in and build buildings for them quickly and it was the thing that was most
amazing was. That this kid was doing what he loved and that's where he wanted to be
and nothing against. The high school he came from but that he wanted to
be in that in that classroom focused on that stuff and that was right for him and
that was really really need to see there's obviously
a lot of different areas where. Different programs that are available to teach Can
we go on. And.
So in addition to college credit there are some industry recognized credentials.
And many students are able to get those I know for example in automotive you can
get some credentials that would make it easier for you to go to an auto dealer and
to get a job and those are available in a bunch of such
a different field one of the big things that C.T.E.
Is that a lot of their students are involved in
a co-op where they'll go and actually work with somebody and get some real hands on
experience. Of going.
And I just threw this in because they were pretty pretty proud that eight of their
computer animation web design students work up to the Champlain College in their
early decision period for
a very competitive game design program for the students that roll there are
a lot of doors opened and it seems to really help them hone in on some skills that
just aren't available in our. In our high school for example.
That we can go on when it's been too long in this district you can see here. The
funding for technical centers is they build a sending high school based on
a six semester rolling average. So we get
a bill based on how many of our students have attended over the past six semesters
and if you have to time the time to put that up you'll see sometimes that you know
if one kid decides to go from Stowe Stowe really pays for that over three years.
And so it's interesting that you know the interesting how their finances work. The
center in Essex on the next slide they were level funded last year this year
they're looking for less than one percent increase. And then I've got
a few slides from Burlington that have the same sort of information are. What are
unique to them there are different programs there are
a half day program actually point five. And they draw
from
a lot of. Different schools as well here we can see that fifteen of them used to
dance. There the bulk of course are coming from Burlington one hundred thirty two.
How many are going to win every. Three.
They offer some of the same programs but they also offer some different programs in
the next slide shows. So they're aerospace and aviation technology is the only one
in the state they sometimes draw students from very far away they offer like the
automotive technology program is the same as in Essex but it would take
a student Burlington two years to accomplish what
a student does an Essex because the Burlington program is half day.
And I think we can go on they also have agreements with. C C D N B
T C In terms of being able to complete that same sort of college level course work
. And some industry recognized credentials and I think the last slide is just also
showing their six semester rolling average. In terms of what they charge the Senate
districts. So it it just seems seem to me that since I had just
gotten this presentation about
a month ago and since I'm passing the reins over to to Chuck in terms of their
regional vice reform that I wanted to to just throw some of the information at this
board if you are interested in more I can certainly send you the full presentations
that we saw but I tried to kind of pull out the. Pieces that I thought would be of
interest to to the sport. Even Gerson I'm
a my cancer questioner for John so fifty eight total students attended
tech centers in the total population of
a new nine hundred. Fifty eight
fifteen down there and is it safe to say half of those are eleventh and twelfth
grade generally so has little less than ten percent
a little more than ten percent of eleventh twelfth graders are attending tech scene
and. If you have this information might put this I'm also curious because. The
way that the C.C.V.
Credit works it's
a fast forward ticket it's the free bouncer so students are all accessing free
college classes is that what you said is
a high percentage accessing dual enrollment through tech centers is far more
students doing just straight C.C.V.
. Or. More through doing Roman.
Two different kinds of out so if you're in the tech center it's
a fast forward. If you're in the high school not the tech center it's just
a dorm room so more potentially more students are accessing just college classes
versus accessing college credit through the tech centers definitely.
Think that's something that you've talked about increasing more by ability and more
students accessing the tech.
Support an important.
Committee is
a sort of thing from finance. You bring up the slides. That
shows
a lot of people I mean once again or something you really don't know. I
guess I want to publicly thank the community for overwhelmingly giving us the
budget that we requested seventy two percent of voters approved the budget in town
meeting. So thank you for that. As
a result the Finance Committee will not be meeting this. Spirit take the month off
and reconvene next month with the new with the new team.
Or. You can say for you go people are playing.
With. The synagogue Shushan three talked. Earlier.
So we met last week. So support staff and teachers.
In both cases we presented them with
a. Comprehensive. And.
The support staff took the. We had little back and forth asking questions but they
basically want to take some time to respond and so we'll meet with them again soon
with the teachers we were there for
a number of hours and went back and forth we weren't able to come to an agreement.
So we decided that bringing in
a mediator would be helpful so we're working on scheduling that. Felt as though we
were reasonably close. That doesn't necessarily mean that we'll be able to come to
agreement quickly but it feels as though at least where. We were. Unfathomably
far apart. So I'm optimistic for that. Community
a community gauge went yeah yeah we're we're in the process of finalizing our plan
that I brought up at the last. Meeting. Just to keep in mind as we're looking at
the board. Meetings scheduled for the next year that we're going to ask you to
attend three to five community meetings over the course of the next year it can be
during the summer while we're not in session it can be during the school year. To
start and we have ideas for you but start thinking about the community groups. That
you are aware of that you think will help you to be in touch with all of the owners
of our districts and figuring out when those meetings are and all of that will be
and well present at the next meeting I hope if there's time or and and
a meeting in the near future we will present. I think they will first meeting we're
going to try to leave just for Val and last there's some other quick things we need
to take care of that we can talk. A bus drivers on the support bus drivers around
sport stuff. I know there's some stuff from the F.B.I.
But I think the hold up to Linux and the agenda items I think that's all the
committees you know. So we're on to
talking about our unified governance school there's been. A fair amount of activity
if you follow along in the news. And so also
a few things I think Diane and maybe Paul want to chime in as well. So the
the lawsuit. Is there's not
a whole lot of activity at this point there's. If we were to decide to hold
a vote some things might happen but I think we're basically just waiting at this
point. For ruling this is some other things happening as well the legislators been
considering. An extension to the deadlines and not forty six the House passed
one version the Senate Education Committee passed something else the other day Paul
and I were down testifying last week. And so presumably the Senate will pass
something that is going to be different from what the House passed so I will go on
to
a conference committee so I don't know if or when will know if or what changes might
affect us but that's sort of going on as well I have
scheduled. Patron for the April fifteenth meeting. To me
this seems as though we may have enough information to make
a decision and we may want to decide. If we want to hold
a vote or not I don't know if you know we don't really know given what's going on
with the legislature whether or not that's going to be the timeline but it seems to
me that April fifteenth is probably a good time for us to have
a conversation with. And see where we stand in terms of the
lawsuit in the legal process. Since you want to talk about the
I Can Only to say that the Vermont School Boards Association Board of Directors.
And the executive director this issue about delay not delay at forty six is taking
up
a ton of time and in looking at the conversations they're getting
very acrimonious. People adults are not exactly being.
Polite are great examples to the students there because of the shepherding but our
district looks pretty darn good compared with some of the stuff I've been seeing in
terms of written emails and attitudes and so forth so I have to pat us on the back
for doing pretty well with the tough situation. And I don't see that there's going
to be any change for us other than what you guys already know from the legislature
will still have that deadline of two thousand one hundred that's going to change.
Just two quick points. I would agree with what John just said about the
Legislature of the. Senate bill for Huntington is probably going to be.
The No Doubt is the July one thousand nine hundred. House Bill gave
and then you see an option of twenty one one hundred twenty twenty I testified I
was asked
a question by the chair and by Senator Hardy I said as far as Huntington's concerned
we are fine with twenty with July one twenty nineteen we don't want to extend this
on another near something. In terms of the V.S.B.
a. There are those probably done and I have
a different opinion about. The Without going into any
detail of the executive committee. Which tax in the middle of the week
last week and that took everybody by surprise so I think that's why there were
people not myself but others who got pretty upset about that but it was explained.
No one's Wednesday and Thursday is a committee of what he says and we met at
a board of directors on Langfang last week. On Monday and Monday we were not
all that Nicole Mason is not going to take
a position right she then appears on his testimony fund Thursday at the end of the
day people want pretty crazy about that lots of questions back and forth lots of
people getting e-mailed. The call did not testify another individual did
testify in favor of no delay. But in all honesty no delay for
any school district in the state in my judgment makes absolutely no sense not
talking about Huntington there are definitely school districts in my judgment and
you know the law so
a one size fits all just didn't make any sense and I think that's why they got the
feedback the S.B.A.
To say they did and I think the other thing that we have to remember is that the
districts that are fighting merge or don't have
a vote they don't vote to do it when you're meeting any or all of the school
districts used to have a vote so we don't have
a vote and hunting doesn't this the school districts that are finding merger don't
have
a vote so they're feeling pretty disenfranchised at this at this point in time so
it's been been
a tough week. But stars Huntington's concert so I want to twenty nineteen that's
what we're that's what we're thinking regardless of what happens.
Stuff that stays the way it is would want to be talking about whether or not we
want to hold a vote by the end of June it's possible as Paul said just
a given the houses versions that we might have
a choice of extending things. Make it Tom can stick to what goes on closed doors or
in the conference committees that I. Like my crystal ball is broken interpret
what's likely to come out of that so. I'm not putting
a whole lot of weight on either version knowing that knowing that things are going
to change. At some point I'm just not trust us here so we call it when you
say. July first what it would be
if their money has merged on July first and twenty nineteen were not merged and
twenty nineteen that's what I think's going to happen with the with with the
legislature and I thought it was such
a movie made rumor that the Senate the Senate bill is going to leave Huntington
July one of twenty nineteen which is where the secretary's order is so the Senate
the Senate education bill doesn't change the secretary's order at all where we're
sitting here right now is no different than where we were on November third with
respect to send this occasion and Huntington doesn't want another year of the and
I'm sure no one wants another year of the conflict and tension that we've had so we
would prefer to get this resolved by July want to twenty nineteen and not have
another year back and forth. So. I mean you would vote to
dissolve Chinese if. The state.
So if there was no merger. So at this point we're just dealing with the question of
the last stages of AK forty six and there are some questions about when and how
things will happen I think the I think the expectation that Philip Ruth had which I
think I think is generally accepted is that. If not Mansfield does not hold
a vote by the end of June that Huntington would remain
a modern Huntington would remain as they are if we did choose to hold
a vote. And it was positive before July first then Huntington would be merged that
seems to be the issue in terms of dissolving the supervisory Union I
think you're referring to the motion that we passed this board passed in January
and so if we get to the end of this AK forty six process and we are not merged
then we would be looking to. To go and talk to the state board in terms of
dissolving. The supervisory Union. So the attorney Peytral then that we
were. That our insurance company gave us to defend for the lawsuit
we're also using in terms of the over our board's overall goal of having
a. Unified governance and just being one board as opposed to the two that are
really set hearing sitting here at the table now with the third. Third board as
well so though. So that would
be and that would be
a next step if it were the board voted to instruct the
district district attorney. To begin the process of dissolving the district is that
motions is that resolution. Yeah that's not something
our lawyer because the legislative changes know that's the right side of the motion
but I believe we authorized him to get
a necessary steps to accomplish the goals as
a practical matter. No steps have been taken to dissolve the supervisory union nor
would I instruct our attorney to do that until we first resolve the issues around
governance we maybe. We may be merged in
a few months or we may have some different resolution that forty six or we may have
found out that there are some different timeline. I get nervous when there's
legislation being written because. Occasionally it's surprising
and has things that we didn't anticipate and so. Right now our
focus is on on seeing what happens there and then after that if we're still
not
a unified district we would then move on towards looking to dissolving the supervisory
Union or any other legal steps as I think the wording if I'm this is not Mansfield
authorizes legal counsel to take all steps allowed under current law so the Mount
Mansfield may become a supervisory district under I forty six not forty nine with
a unified governance structure regardless of the inclusion of owning in school
districts This should include the filing of
a formal request with the State Board of Education for all approvals required so
the Mount Mansell may have
a unified government structure is that motion still in effect Absolutely and that's
what we'll do once this first question of that forty six. But obviously they'll be
some conversation between the attorney on the board in terms of that in the
community assuming we decide to proceed I think you know I think we have
a rough idea of what that might look like but I don't know that we know what the
timeframe would be that would be. You know we would take that up.
Possibly before June but my guess would be after that. Again assuming that we're
not that we don't that we continue to be
a non unified governance structure then we would be pursuing that so we have
decided to pursue it if we still are Right right yeah.
So the idea that if I did I don't think it was perhaps as explicit in the end there
is perhaps it could have been and perhaps it was intentional but I think the
board's the board's intent with that motion was that we would try to. Resolve the
question of unification first hoping that Huntington will join us as part of AK
forty six and then if that doesn't happen then we're going to pursue unified
governance and I think we also want to make sure that folks were aware of that
that's where the sport stood and that if we don't end up as a. As
a merged district and we're we're going to be trying to figure out how we can end
up with a single board I think I saw
a hand go. To need to listen to your testimonies to the Senate committee my
granddaughter was visiting so I didn't get
a chance to listen to Paul the next day but one thing that the committee chair
shared with you that you haven't mentioned is that if in fact. My man so
goes the way of. Eliminating the. C.S.U.
They ask you that of the committee chair as serious support to your efforts
and I'm sure you recall that that was to the end of your testimony and and thinking
about the as
a. Angriness this out there I do have the opportunity to read.
About ninety percent of the correspondence going on between the truth thirty thirty
three school districts and its six stream the high and next extremely angry
and someone in that group summary of last week was that.
It looks like that the districts that. Don't want to merge or don't get
a delay and those A one A merger have a delay so it was
a summer yeah OK if you are really angry you know your dad you know you're dead in
the water so to speak and if you really get along well you got
a year to year to continue to work so it was easy when the right. Yabba thirty
three and there's the other Huntington's one of the others and then they're stuck
but mostly conversation but as in among those thirty three so it's not private Well
I guess it is
a private conversation many way I have reading abilities the same. Some
more to come and I expect that. April fifteenth will stand
a good chunk of time talking about. If and what we need to decide.
So I was curious if you're going to be addressing the non-binding motion. Meeting.
If I recall can you refresh my memory.
Well I'm not
a lawyer but my understanding of what this means is that if the Mansfield court
were to agree to not have a vote on
a merger. Which would mean that there would not be
a merger at least under the current state court order and the legislation
that. Honey honey should district would drop Mansfield from the current law says.
So and. You're shaking your head gal. Apolo do this summer you
can summarize. The same it's the same thing has been on the books since to middle
of January which is and we said it over and over and it was said at the Town
Meeting over and over. That if. Mansfield says it won't
warn
a vote before the judge rules then the Huntington school board will meet and discuss
dropping that man so there's
a defendant. In the legal challenge. Have you gotten.
Legal Counsel that we have no we were fine with that in other words if now Mansell
said is not going to warrant
a vote before the judge rolls we're going to meet no problem and out of that will
be
a decision to drop me and so does the defendant but we would do it quickly and then
wait months for the next. Boat to
develop in tree Court. But. I think. I would just say that that
speaking of acrimony and tension at a town has obviously been one that is because
a lot of it this was an effort. By
a community member to bridge that but I think to get to.
Opposing viewpoints kind of a place to say you know and I mean you being named in
a lawsuit is really hard for the town of Huntington because it's obviously naming
ourselves and so it was and it was an effort to at least.
To leave. That was an hour and twenty minutes discussion on this well and then you
know I'm
a spliff launched just on this one most on the comma well on the. Right
night or
a memo to one of them about the competitor but I didn't know what it is. But it
started well before lunch and then up right.
So I said I thought it was important that it was mentioned in that appreciate that
and I'm sure how I mean you know there's obviously some different viewpoints and
Donington on probably
a number of issues it's been it's been difficult I think to manage the terrain
partially because the terrain is shifting but actually because I think it's pretty
clear that that part of our community has
a different view than than the other part. Telling
Me Yep Yep he'll have that I did speak to Pietro before I testified.
And I'm sure that John and I will be in touch before the April fifteenth meeting to
make sure that he has all the information. So that we can have
a productive discussion again and assuming that that makes sense Kevin this will
fall if I could ask you
a question. You know directed to the chair and I'm sure. I want to make sure I
heard the Huntington school board chair correctly and if so maybe we could get that
writing where he's basically saying on behalf of the honey to the school board he's
sharing this with us that the school board will. Drop us from the lawsuit
if we decide accordingly but I think that's what you just said right as it was we
have the go ahead but we've had the go ahead from our legal council since the
middle of January this is the same exact language. In our
response to M.M.U.
Steve's petition to be dismissed page five this this language our response to
the petition to reconsideration that the judge denied this language and so
this is the same language from the from the floor and we have legal advice that
says this is fine so if M.M. U.S.T.
Takes up as ition we meet we have FULL of forty at that meeting at the end I was
probably a special board meeting to say yes and my intention my X.
Full expectation would be that we would drop and then US D.
As a defendant in
a lawsuit as long as him and us did he says are not going to warrant
a vote before the judge rules in the main argument. So yes that's exactly that's
exactly the intention and I think that's what I do believe that's what would happen
right away. That we have that right it is on the run.
I mean what I'm reading in the minutes is that the town is asking the school board
to do so I'm not school board asking. This board anything.
To Money can school board minutes from January we're not.
The Unc in school board has not asked M M U S D.
From board to board right because the conversation has been between Council
and council and then at the town meeting. And
motion came up with visor emotion. An individual said that he would be coming to
your board meeting to represent that sort of conversation which is us something
what we're doing now. And so we're waiting to hear back at this point.
And we we've discussed this
a school board meeting but we're still waiting to hear back from not Mansfield to
see if they're going to make that statement so if.
I'm sure that
a future is not already aware of this. Motion that it will be brought to his
attention and that will be part of the discussion if it's part of the needs if it's
a helpful part of the decision that we need to potential in
a clinical fifteen. But we I think we need to we need to hear from our attorney
what that means what implications there might be before we before we make
a decision as a project matter if we're going to warrant
a vote before you know that to happen before the end of June it's going to be
a relatively short order anyway. And April or I think early May would be the latest
that if you are going to hold
a vote that we can. But we'll talk to Peter on the fifteenth
got anything else go but. It isn't to right now what Paul just said in that the
first time this board is heard from the Huntington board that the Huntingdon board
accepted the advice they got. Which was. They have I think
their advice was if this board post put off
a vote then Huntington board was going to drop the lawsuit against Mel Mansell the
best first time I saw I mean I heard it at Tommy but I'm his first time I think
this board has heard that this may be the first time that it's been discussed in
open session
I still don't see that as the Huntington school board and its token represent
them that's fine but I don't see it anywhere in writing from the Huntington school
where they really we were looking at old minutes right now that are on line so I
guess I appreciate that the town is requesting that of the board strongly
appreciate that I think that is. A really positive gesture of good faith.
I think that we do need to have it in writing from the board like Kevin said we
agree we cream is the right. Wow.
I mean the meat is basically saying that if you don't do what we're suing to
prevent you from doing what we're preventing we're you know we're suing you to stop
you from doing something if you agree to not do it will drop illicit right I mean
it was not the original motion right but that's essentially what it's inflicted but
at this point there's nothing for us to to look I don't act on look at talk to the
attorney about this is agree with us we want to do.
For the hour is getting late I know we have or more to talk about there and I think
that'll happen the next meeting that the meeting after. So our next agenda item
is an update on the boat and potholes in the Vermont river Conservancy. Serves me
right for at the last meeting saying that nothing was happening there so of course
. I was wrong ran into the town clerk
a few days later and found out that the Vermont river Conservancy has purchased
some of the land in Bolton. They went to the select board.
And I went to that meeting as well the Vermont river Conservancy asked for the town
to install some porta Lets and
a sign and to give the OK for some steps they didn't have funding for the steps but
they wanted the the OK from the town this would all be located on town property but
it is directly behind the school. So what I believe was
anticipated to happen at the boat select board meeting tonight was that they're
going to decide to have
a public. Community forum to discuss this the issues. It's
a big issue for the folks who happen to live. In that small part of the world it's
a very big issue and it has the potential to impact the school district.
As people sometimes tend to park in the school parking lot or walk through and by
the school and there are some issues there so. I just wanted the school board to be
aware that that's going on and I think I know that I'll attend any public form
involved and I believe there's
a chance that the administration would send somebody to one of those meetings as
well to deal with our concerns that we considered on
a board issue or through the Strait of issues. I think it's
a ministry of issue I think and this resenting us for information. You can was in
this tied to some transfer of property and that was part of what brought up some of
the questions for me. I think that's where it felt like for me it was
a board issue so there are. The whole
reason that I brought up the discussion I think this was at the last meeting. Which
I really think was
a separate issue the. In the ninety's when the. Smiley
elementary school was expanding the town ended up purchasing some of the land that
was needed to expand the school it was intended to be transferred to the school but
that never happened so
a portion of our school building sits on land that is owned by the town we're
supposed to be paying a dollar
a year lease. There were some reasons why we thought we were going to be able to
move the property line so that the school district would the land underneath the
building there was some reasons why the town didn't want to do that I think that's
what. Prompted my discussion of other things that are going on in the area I don't
know that they're related. To the school being
a place where often happens and that with this kind of
Chua's I ownership squatting piece that there was some confusion at least and that
. We did get clarity as
a result of the surveys that we did in terms of figuring out where the school
district wanted to relocate the property line we're clear where that line is. I
don't think it was ever the intent at least of the school district to purchase the
property that the Vermont river the piece of the property that the Vermont river
Conservancy is asking the Bolton select board to allow them to put up or to us and
assign and install the steps right in that very spot there's also
a fire department hydrant so the town has intended to keep that piece and they have
a right of way through our parking lot to access that.
Fence. I mean I'm just trying to get
a piece of the land because they're looking about it seeing where it where is it
with regard to neither is or the piece of land that they're interested and.
So the potholes are almost directly behind the school the town owns the land that's
mostly to the east so away from the valley access road the Vermont river concerns
he just purchased the land that is to the west of the potholes between the access
road and the. And the potholes
a number of years ago that. The town installed guardrails so it's impossible for
people to now park on the access road as
a result of that. They've ended up parking in the school parking lot in general
that hasn't been
a problem but there's been there has been some mentalism they took
a bunch of vegetables
a couple summers ago trash issues there's been some other other concerns. You know
the school district obviously is happy to have people use the parking lot in
a respectful manner but folks some of the folks who go to the potholes are engaged
in behaviors that don't belong on school grounds and that's a that's
a concern I think for the district and I think John is. You know John is prepared
to try and relay the concerns that the school district has to the select board I'm
not sure if he would do that or if he'd have somebody else to do
so hard to take up more time with town business but I did want to make sure folks
knew it was what was going on. Does anyone have any other business or
discussion about future agenda items. You know.
Here. Where.
I brought cookies to share. Probably on the way out the best way
to get down again and be sure we planted. A frame for the next meeting if nobody.
You know. So I think our next couple meetings look like April first approaches
river will be meeting with the Gardner. For policy governance.
And I suspect
a good chunk of the April fifteenth meeting will be the which is back here at
camel's hump will be dealing with our forty six issues. We do also have on our
agenda
a policy govern itself review which I intend to put at the end of each agenda but
that does not seem appropriate for this particular meeting given the topics of the
hour Does anybody have anything else. Cynics might believe she said April
first was
a brown server though the schedule here says you can't but we are camped some
tonight so you know at the bottom of our agenda.
If you prefer So I want to make sure Bransford is ready for OK with you.
To the topic. Of money make sure everybody knows that but at the bottom How about
really that happened before. They proposed I want to talk about I don't want to
happen this or high there is no right. Or there is no
maybe. I would entertain
a motion to adjourn to look back at all in favor say I want a cookie.